Workmate 79-001 Accessories
Swivel Grips 79-010
The four plastic swivel grips were the one accessory that came with every Workmate sold. They are a very recognizable feature of the Workmate and one which emphasizes that the Workmate is not just a work surface but is also a work-holding device.
Most owners refer to them as "bench dogs" or just "dogs", but Black & Decker never used these terms. The original British instruction manual called them "vice pegs". The U.S. manuals for the Type E and Type 1 called them "swivel pegs". Later manuals (and all of the parts diagrams) refer to them as "swivel grips."
Surprisingly, the design of the swivel grips changed several times during the production run of the 79-001.
Most owners refer to them as "bench dogs" or just "dogs", but Black & Decker never used these terms. The original British instruction manual called them "vice pegs". The U.S. manuals for the Type E and Type 1 called them "swivel pegs". Later manuals (and all of the parts diagrams) refer to them as "swivel grips."
Surprisingly, the design of the swivel grips changed several times during the production run of the 79-001.
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The photos above show four different styles of grips from Workmate 79-001s.
The first two photos show the blue grips that were unique to the Type E. Each of the next three photos show three different styles of the black grips. The black grip on the left in each photo is the oldest of those three, from the 79-001 Type 2 and Type 3, with a style very close to that of the blue ones. The middle one was introduced in October 1976, so it was used for the last nine months of sales of the 79-001 Type 2. The one on the right replaced it about a year later in October 1977 on the Type 4. They are all 20mm in diameter. (The 79-001 Type 1 has smaller peg holes than all other models, only 3/4" in diameter, with grips that are the same style as the one on the left but with correspondingly smaller posts.)
The oldest of the black ones has its part number 975384 molded on the bottom of the head of the grip, along with "20 MM". The part number matches that on the original B&D part diagram from 1975. The 3/4" grips for the 79-001 Type 1 do not have a molded in part number or diameter marking. The two later styles do not have a part number but have "CDN" plus a hyphenated pair of single digits (such as "3-5") embossed inside the recesses in the rear of the post. I counted at least twenty unique combinations, with the first digit ranging from 1 to 6 and the second digit from 1 to 8.
The post on the blue grip and the oldest black one is about 1-5/8" long vs. 1-3/8" for the later ones. They are long enough that the tabs at the bottom extend below the bottom surface of the vise jaw even when they are used in the double-thick edge. B&D must have realized that wasn't really necessary and shortened them for the later styles, which just barely reach flush to the bottom of the deeper holes.
Also, on the blue grip and the oldest black one, the legs and their tabs are on the front and back of the post, whereas the later grips have them on the sides. I can't figure out whether that has any particular consequence.
The blue grip and the two oldest black ones have working faces that are identical in size and shape, whereas the later one has a slightly wider (+1/8") and taller (+1/16") face, probably a good idea to spread out the pressure a bit more.
The later one also has little "wings" that protrude from the top edges. They give your fingers a couple of minimal spots to apply some upward force when you're pulling on a grip to remove it, actually helpful sometimes so you don't have to squeeze so hard. I can't see any other advantage to them.
At some point Black & Decker changed the color of the grips to orange, but that was after the production of the Workmate 79-001 had ended. The parts diagrams available from B&D show at least three different part numbers that are later replacements for the original. If you want your 79-001 to be period-correct, you will need black (or blue for a Type E) swivel grips! You can still find vintage black ones on eBay occasionally.
The first two photos show the blue grips that were unique to the Type E. Each of the next three photos show three different styles of the black grips. The black grip on the left in each photo is the oldest of those three, from the 79-001 Type 2 and Type 3, with a style very close to that of the blue ones. The middle one was introduced in October 1976, so it was used for the last nine months of sales of the 79-001 Type 2. The one on the right replaced it about a year later in October 1977 on the Type 4. They are all 20mm in diameter. (The 79-001 Type 1 has smaller peg holes than all other models, only 3/4" in diameter, with grips that are the same style as the one on the left but with correspondingly smaller posts.)
The oldest of the black ones has its part number 975384 molded on the bottom of the head of the grip, along with "20 MM". The part number matches that on the original B&D part diagram from 1975. The 3/4" grips for the 79-001 Type 1 do not have a molded in part number or diameter marking. The two later styles do not have a part number but have "CDN" plus a hyphenated pair of single digits (such as "3-5") embossed inside the recesses in the rear of the post. I counted at least twenty unique combinations, with the first digit ranging from 1 to 6 and the second digit from 1 to 8.
The post on the blue grip and the oldest black one is about 1-5/8" long vs. 1-3/8" for the later ones. They are long enough that the tabs at the bottom extend below the bottom surface of the vise jaw even when they are used in the double-thick edge. B&D must have realized that wasn't really necessary and shortened them for the later styles, which just barely reach flush to the bottom of the deeper holes.
Also, on the blue grip and the oldest black one, the legs and their tabs are on the front and back of the post, whereas the later grips have them on the sides. I can't figure out whether that has any particular consequence.
The blue grip and the two oldest black ones have working faces that are identical in size and shape, whereas the later one has a slightly wider (+1/8") and taller (+1/16") face, probably a good idea to spread out the pressure a bit more.
The later one also has little "wings" that protrude from the top edges. They give your fingers a couple of minimal spots to apply some upward force when you're pulling on a grip to remove it, actually helpful sometimes so you don't have to squeeze so hard. I can't see any other advantage to them.
At some point Black & Decker changed the color of the grips to orange, but that was after the production of the Workmate 79-001 had ended. The parts diagrams available from B&D show at least three different part numbers that are later replacements for the original. If you want your 79-001 to be period-correct, you will need black (or blue for a Type E) swivel grips! You can still find vintage black ones on eBay occasionally.